Surgeon convicted over child porn

MACKAY surgeon Dr William 'Cody' Fitzgerald will be able to continue practising under supervision following his conviction for child porn charges yesterday, the Magistrate's Court heard.

However, the nature of the supervision and the terms of other conditions which have been imposed on him by the Medical Board of Queensland have not been made public.

William Joseph Fitzgerald, 42, pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing child pornography, one of copying child pornography and one of possessing a laptop computer suspected of being tainted property, all in Mackay on September 24.

Police had search warrants for both his business and private address and he declared he had a laptop with images on it in his vehicle, prosecutor Sergeant Neville Cox said.

A Queensland Police Intelligence computer expert examined it and found a total of 120 images of mostly boys, naked, some involved in sexual activity, aged four to 15 years.

Solicitor Michael Springer, for Dr Fitzgerald, said the doctor came across the websites after he received unsolicited emails and had accessed it for about three weeks.

Dr Fitzgerald was publicly shamed by his arrest and was an otherwise well-respected, professional man, Mr Springer said.

He was assessed by a psychologist who provided explanations for his behaviour in a report which was tendered but not read out.

The psychologist reported that Dr Fitzgerald was not a threat to children or the community and would not reoffend, Mr Springer said.

''He realises he has breached the trust of his patients, colleagues, friends and family,'' Mr Springer said.

Dr Fitzgerald also realised that his was not a victimless crime because some children had suffered, Mr Springer said.

Magistrate Ross Risson said children, because they could not protect themselves, needed to be protected by adults and also said he accepted that Dr Fitzgerald was undergoing a personal and professional crisis at the time.

Dr Fitzgerald was convicted and fined $2000.

Outside court, Mr Springer said Dr Fitzgerald was truly remorseful and was not a risk to children or the community and never would be.